Britannia Arms Downtown

Location: San Jose, CA
Cuisine type: British Pub
Atmosphere: sports bar, pub
Meal: late dinner
Price range: $8 - $16 / plate
Overall grade: 7.9

Ben

We stopped in here on Halloween night (a Monday) to grab a beer, bar food, and costumed-people-watch (in our own cowboy attire) with even some MNF in the background. The restaurant was pretty empty so we sat at the bar, the bartenders were very friendly and outgoing. There was not a large beer selection, they rather went with limited number of high quality beers (which I appreciate as large menus overwhelm me..). The layout is a simple classic pub layout - long bar, offset dining tables, though had a much cleaner feel than  my perception of a classic pub. I ordered one of the British classics (sausage (bangers), onions, mashed potatoes, and vegetables for me), which I found about as good as british food could possibly be. The prices were decent for the drinks and food. Overall, it is an enjoyable, reliable bar to grab food or drinks, and with a convenient downtown San Jose location. 

Food          8

Drinks        8

Atmosphere 8

Service       9

Value         7

Nina

We stopped by this place on Halloween night dressed in cowboys - the reason was not as much the food (we had no idea what to expect) as was the fortunate combination of a bar/pub open late on a Monday night, with them showing the football game with the sound on, so we could actually follow the game.

The menu consisted of various dishes from the old world, though I did notice in the sides listing they still called french fries as "fries" rather than "chips" on the menu, and potato chips were not "crisps" either. After pondering over some of the classics - sausage (bangers), fish'n'chips, I went with something hearty since I was really starving at that point. I got the 12 oz steak with onion rings, french fires and steamed vegetables. The steak was well seasoned and perfectly cooked and the onion rings and fries were crispy and not too greasy. However, the vegetables were quite plain, not nearly seasoned enough and a bit overcooked. Steak sauce made them palatable but still not something I would pick off a menu on its own. The beer selection was not too impressive, but there were enough choices on draught that I was happy with what I got.

This place is not somewhere I would go for a gourmet dinner,  but for a hearty meal over a game of football it remains a solid option.

Food           7

Drinks        8

Atmosphere 8

Service       9

Value         8

Mezbaan Bar & Indian Cuisine

Location: Santa Clara, CA
Cuisine type: Indian traditional
Atmosphere: family style seating, casual atmosphere
Meal: dinner
Price range: ~$13 - $18 / entree
Overall grade: 7.9

Ben

A good-looking restaurant in the River Mark plaza in northern San Jose, well decorated and pretty large sized compared to most Indian restaurants in the area. We were hauled in by an anxious server as we were walking by perusing the menu. During the meal, we were waited on by 3 different servers, all very professional and polite. We started out with the special appetizer of the night, a royal chicken breast in spices.. it was spicy, delicious and filling. We both ordered lamb dishes, I ordered the lamb curry and requested the high level of spiciness. The spiciness level did not disappoint, I was met with all I could handle - exactly what  I was hoping for. The portion of lamb was very generous, and I loved the heavy curry flavor. I ordered an Indian beer (Flying Horse) which went well with spicy food. The naan was fluffy and buttery, perfect for wiping up the generous amounts of sauce. After starting out with the large appetizer, and continuing to the lamb with naan and rice, we ended up taking about another entire meal for both of us home (actually 2 meals for me). The value was overall pretty good for the portions (even the beer was 24 oz), though we were slightly annoyed when we discovered on the bill that the appetizer of the day was more than twice the price of any other appetizer on the menu (~$14). The place was full with a mix of couples, families, and large parties, and was overall an enjoyable experience.

Food:           9

Drinks:         8
Atmosphere: 7
Service:        8
Value:          7


Nina

On a friend's recommendation, we decided to try this restaurant which sits inconspicuously in the same parking lot as the supermarket where we buy most of our food. Honestly, I'm surprised it took us this long to eat here, we pass by it every day, and after all we do like Indian food.

At first glance, the menu looked very reasonable - both in price and variety of offerings. The drinks menu looked equally enticing, with a few domestic as well as European and Indian beers joined by a full wine and cocktail menu. I ordered a Mai Tai - it was very well made and much more complex in flavor than anything I actually had in Hawaii.


The manager personally came to take our appetizer order, and after explaining to us their standard offerings he encouraged us to try the "nawapi(royal) chicken" special of the day - he forgot to mention that it about twice as expensive as all other appetizers, and that was a surprised he saved for the check. That being said, the chicken was tasty, layered with flavors from different herbs and marinades, though slightly overcooked and dry. Before the entrees were brought in, we had a few spicy dips and fresh fried chips  on the table, which was tasty, but nothing to dig in heartily, more of a palate awakening. 


I ordered the Saag Gosht - spinach cream lamb, and it came in a metal dish over a tea light to keep warm, with a side of biryani rice. It was spicy, flavorful and tender, and also plentiful enough that half of it was enough for a satisfying dinner. The rest became breakfast the next day, and it was just as goo reheated as it was fresh. This restaurant is in such a convenient location and serves such delicious Indian food, that we will probably become regulars. 

Food:          8
Drinks:         9
Atmosphere: 8
Service:        7
Value:          7

No. 9 Fishermen's Grotto

Location: San Francisco, CA
Cuisine type: fresh seafood
Atmosphere: cafe style seating (street-side terrace)
Meal: dinner
Price range: ~$25-$50 / entree
Overall grade: 8.6

Ben

One of the legendary restaurants in the famous Fisherman's Wharf, we came in with high expectations. It's very pleasant to sit outside and absorb the high activity in a beautiful area of the city, and there seemed to be a large variety of patrons, from foreign tourists to young townies. I loved all of the food that was placed in front of me - I ordered a fresh, locally caught full dungeness crab, which came with a creamy crab chowder served first.  The crab came cleaned and chopped, requiring minimal shell-cracking. I actually would have preferred to have received the full crab, rather than being pre-chopped, but I believe this could have been requested. The crab was light, flavorful, and hearty.The fresh bread was also fantastic. The beer menu was somewhat limited, featuring mostly well known national and international beers (I wish they had included a few local microbrews). Not surprisingly, the wine menu was much more extensive, with a good selection of fine and local wines. The food was great, but the only consideration to be made is whether to eat at this nice sit-down restaurant, or experience the more lively (and lower cost) adjacent fish markets. These markets go straight to the point: fresh caught crab and other seafood served over the counter on rolls, with a large crowd of people standing around, shuffling back and forth over a wooden counter, shells being cracked over paper plates.

Food:           9
Drinks:         8
Atmosphere: 9
Service:        8
Value:          8

Nina

This restaurant attracted us with the large neon signs on top advertising 75 years of history on the Fishermen's Wharf. If they've been around for that long, they must have something going for them, right?
We went for the obvious - fresh caught seafood, though they also offer an array of chicken and beef centered dishes. Their chowders are somewhat overpriced, though they deliver in taste. There are two options - Boston Clam Chowder (which is cream based), and Coney Island Clam Chowder (which is tomato based) so of course we ordered both and shared. The distinction between tomato based and cream based is somewhat misleading, since I am pretty sure the red chowder was also loaded on cream, but that's what makes it a chowder, after all. The fresh bread (sourdough, I believe) that they brought out with our drinks was freshly baked, with a delicious - but not too crunchy - crust which made it impossible to refuse seconds.
My entree choice was one of the daily specials, a combination seafood linguine. I've had many of these before, and at different restaurants, but none as rich in flavor and meat as this one. It consisted of an abundance of shrimp, clams, mussels and tender calamari bits, tossed in al dente pasta with a handful of perfectly cooked mushroom slices and a delicious, creamy tomato sauce - served, of course, with freshly grated parmesan in a side dish.

This place is great for a relaxed, somewhat fancy dinner in the heart of the San Francisco Pier 39 - Fishermen's Wharf area. We chose the outdoor seating option, where we had a small and cozy table with a view of the hustle and bustle of the wharf. If you prefer less people watching and more of a quiet dinner with a view of the pier with boats moored and, if you're lucky, the Golden Gate Bridge, then you can request a window table inside on the other end of the restaurant.
If you prefer a more casual, not as quiet and peaceful dinner or you are not eager to spend a lot on food, there are many seafood market shops right next to this restaurant in the same building. They feature the most basic crab and chowder selections in a very hands-on, standing serving style - the counter that the food comes out on doubles as eating surface, with silverware rare and in plastic form when present. The crab, however, the star of the show this time of year, is just as fresh and juicy in either case.

Food           9
Drinks         9
Atmosphere 8
Service        9
Value          8

Delarosa

Location: San Francisco, CA (Marina)
Cuisine type: Italian, Roman style pizza
Atmosphere: cozy style cafe seating, modern feel
Meal: lunch
Price range: $10-$17 / pizza
Overall grade: 8.25

Ben

A nice location, hip feel with a lot of activity, cafeteria-style seating with long shared tables, open doors and seating inside and outside.  The service was overwhelmed at the time but we still didn't have to wait long, and the menu offers a wide variety from quirky to standard pizzas. We ordered a mushroom pizza and scallops. This is one of the best pizzas I've had since being in the bay area, with a perfect crush, flavorful fresh sauce, and delicious cheese and herbs. The scallops were OK. It's a perfect place to stop by downtown San Francisco for a slice of pizza and people-watch in a lively atmosphere.

Food           9
Drinks        7
Atmosphere 9
Service       8
Value          8


Nina

After starting the day early in the city with a bottomless mimosa while watching the Purdue Boilermakers play football (and actually winning, which was new to see), I was starving so we just stopped in the first place that looked good. This time, it was a Roman style pizza restaurant, with a simple and modern decor and relaxed atmosphere.

I picked a couple of their more whimsical dishes to share, and I was very pleased with what came out of the kitchen. First, it was a pair of skewered spiced scallops served on leeks with roasted fingerling potatoes. The scallops were cooked just right, barely translucent and perfectly caramelized on both sides, and the leeks just melted in my mouth. The pizza reminded me of a New York style, and since I had no previous experience with Roman style, this was the closest analogy I can make. The crust was thin and crunchy, firm enough to pick up with your hand, but not tough like some thicker pizzas.  It was topped with a thin layer of tomato sauce, which was rich and savory. However, the cheese and mushroom toppings, while delicious and unique (fontina and wild mushroom mix) were fairly scarce. This was the only disappointing part about this experience, but I would definitely look for this place again if I find myself craving some delicious thin crust pizza while in the Marina area.

Food           9
Drinks         8
Atmosphere 8
Service        7
Value          8

Sono Sushi

Location: Mountain View, CA
Cuisine type: Japanese, Sushi
Atmosphere: sushi boats bar, austere decor
Meal: late dinner
Price range: $2 - $4.50 / plate
Overall grade: 7

Ben

This is an average sushi restaurant, at a great location on Castro street in Mountain View. We were hungry and stopped for running sushi.. a la carte dishes from $2 - $4.50. The fish was good, tea was served, prices were fair. Overall a perfectly standard place for sushi, not a reliable stop if you're in the area and craving raw fish.


Food           7
Drinks         7
Atmosphere 8
Service        8
Value          7

Nina

We stopped at this place while walking through downtown Mountain View on  Friday night not because we had not eaten dinner, but because we passed by and I couldn't resist the crave for some bites of sushi floating along in little boats. We entered through this very run down door and didn't have very high expectations for this place.

When you have such low expectations from the start, it is hard to be disappointed, so I was fairly pleased with the food. It was the run of the mill rolls and nigiri, nothing too exotic since the more interesting rolls are always on the a la carte menu. Then I discovered that any of the a la carte nigiris could be ordered at the running sushi bar, so I went for something more exciting - I ordered my first uni sushi. It was a new,  interesting flavor profile, a briny ocean taste, yet delicate in texture and mouth feel. I'm glad I tried something new, but this is not necessarily the first place that I would turn to when I crave for sushi.

Food            7
Drinks          6
Atmosphere  6
Service         7
Value           7

Teske's Germania

Location: San Jose, CA
Cuisine type: German
Atmosphere: authentic setting, homey dining room
Meal: dinner
Price range: ~$20-$30/meal,
Overall grade: 8.25

Ben

An authentic German restaurant, from the feel to the entire menu. I ordered a dish extremely popular in Germany (was my favorite dish during the 8 months I lived there, though it is not German), a hungarian goulash. It had a very rich and moderately spiced paprika flavor with tender beef and delicious spaetzle on the side. Nina had a Jaegerschnitzel (breaded pork with mushroom sauce) that was equally delicious. 

They had a large selection of German beers on tap, and the true feel in every way of a respectable German restaurant (minus the pizza that seemed to be on every menu in Germany). The food selection, preparation, and flavors are perfectly what one could expect to get in any classic restaurant in Germany, and in my opinion it was probably more flavorful than most genuine restaurants in Germany (possibly an ever-so-subtle accentuation in spices to stand up to the american palate). The service was prompt, the dress ranged from formal to T-shirts, with the entrees a little pricy (ranging from ~$20-$35).

Food  9
Drinks  9
Service  9
Atmosphere 8
Value 7

Nina

It could have been a feeling of melancholy for the time we spent in Europe a few years ago, or just pure coincidence which landed us in this quaint little German restaurant on a Thursday night. As soon as we entered we were transported back in time and space to an old style German bar - dim lit, tinted wood bar counter and stools, and a few different varieties of Bavarian brews. After walking through the narrow bar area, we entered the dining room, which was not much larger - maybe 10, 15 tables at most. It had a low ceiling and visible wood beams which gave the place even more of an authentic feel. The crowd was very diverse, from young to old, from casual to nearly formal wear, but the atmosphere was casual and friendly, with the hum of chatter in the air.

I ordered my favorite German dish - Jaegerschnitzel. Basically, it is built around the classic veal schnitzel - tenderized filet dredged through flour, dipped in whole egg and coated in bread crumbs, then fried. What makes it a Jaegerschnitzel (hunter's cutlet) is the mushroom cream sauce served on top of it. Although this one felt a bit grainy, it was creamy nonetheless and definitely had a rich mushroom flavor that I enjoyed quite a bit. To make it more authentic German, it was served with a side of Spaetzle, a very egg-rich traditional noodle (more of a cross between a dumpling and a noodle), which doesn't have a lot of flavor on its own, but acts like the sponge to other flavors in the dish.

While the entrees seemed a little pricy for their simplicity, we soon realized that by ordering an entree we would get a full meal - soup of the day and house salad before the entree and dessert of the day afterwards. They told us they were out of their advertised dessert - appel strudel - and served us marzipan cake instead. The cake was sweet and slightly bitter with the flavor of the marzipan, with a moist and creamy texture, so I didn't mind the substitution at all.

I really enjoyed this simple, yet tasty German meal, as well as the authentic atmosphere. In the future I would definitely go back when I crave a good Bavarian brew on tap and a hearty meat-centered meal.

Food           7
Drinks         9
Atmosphere 9
Service        8
Value          8

Sam's Chowder House

Location: Half Moon Bay, CA
Cuisine type: New England Style Seafood
Atmosphere: bistro style seating, sweeping ocean views
Meal: dinner
Price range: ~$20-$30/entree
Overall grade: 8.8

Ben

A famous place near Half Moon Bay on the road to San Francisco, with a seemingly cult following and constantly packed crowds due to the heavy traffic and perfect beachside location. The restaurant does not disappoint – we found a table in the back of the restaurant next to a window of the coast – a beautiful view including beach, boats, and even a lighthouse. The menu features but does not emphasize chowders –actually only offering a few selections as starters. As we were called by some of the entrees and weren’t looking for a heavy appetizer, we went with raw oysters (served with cocktail, red wine vinaigrette, and garlic white wine sauces) instead – which were fantastic. I ordered the award-winning lobster roll – a generous portion of Maine lobster on fresh roll, which was incredibly soft and buttery, living up to the rolls we had in Portland, Maine. The sides were an afterthought of potato chips and a simple slaw, most of which were left on the plates when the waiter picked them up (every crumb of the lobster roll itself was thoroughly polished by all three people who ordered it). The desert (a chocolate crème brulee) was a great finish to the meal. The atmosphere is very relaxing and fun, everyone’s mood enhanced by the great view and food. The drink menu had a decent selection of beers and wines, and the service was fast and efficient.  In our first trip to Half Moon Bay, Sam’s Chowder House lived up to its reputation and has added a couple more loyal fans to its giant base (there is even a well stocked gift shop in the front selling Sam’s Chowder House memorabilia).

Food          9

Drinks       7
Atmosphere 10
Service      8
Value        8

Nina

From various announcements in local media, it sounded like the pumpkin festival in Half Moon Bay was a big deal, so we decided to check it out. It was a large street fair with various crafts and pumpkin-centered foods served throughout the downtown area. At the suggestions of some friends, we decided to have dinner with them at a well known place in this coastal area - Sam's Chowder House. From the highway it looked like an unassuming place, pretty modest building placed in a parking lot just off the road. What might have given it away as a special place was the abundance of cars overflowing from the parking lot and onto both sides of the road; what makes it even better is the breathtaking view of the ocean from the window tables inside and the outdoor patio seating. This restaurant is well known for its seafood dishes made with fresh catches both local and flown in from other parts of the country, and of course the chowder, as its name implies.

I opted for a single Oyster from Washington as an appetizer. It was quite possibly the most delicious oyster I've ever eaten - fresh, tender, juicy and light at the same time. A few drops of lemon juice and mignonette sauce really put it over the top.
For my entree, I had wild caught pacific salmon, grilled and served on top of a lentil and chanterelle mushroom stew. This dish did not disappoint - the salmon was perfectly cooked and moist, and the side complemented it very well. I don't often eat lentils, but these were cooked just right, a bit al dente but not undercooked, and paired with just the right amount of chanterelles and bacon to enhance the flavor profile without overwhelming the legumes.

Since the food was so good, I couldn't pass on the dessert, I just had to try what they had to offer. I went for a chocolate creme brulee served with a piece of biscotti and blackberries. It was delicious, of course (it had sugar and chocolate after all, how would I not like it?), though I would dare complain that for a creme brulee it was almost too rich, the flavor of the chocolate overwhelmed the delicate custard and detracted from the light texture that I like to see in this type of dessert.

Even though this place is famous enough on its own, I would still enthusiastically recommend it to anyone looking for fresh, delicious seafood and stunning views of the ocean and sunset in the Half Moon Bay Area.

Food          10

Drinks         9
Atmosphere 9
Service        9
Value          8

Mudai

Location: San Jose, CA
Cuisine type: Ethiopian
Atmosphere: authentic setting, thematic decorations
Meal: dinner
Price range: ~$10-$12/entree,
Overall grade: 7.8

Ben

Mudai was our first Ethiopian on the west coast, and lived up to our experiences we’ve had on the east coast. At first glance, the design of the restaurant looks like it is divided into an adult room and a children’s room. The entrance room is a well lit room with a bar and kitchen at the end and about a dozen tables. To the left is a smaller room with a rainbow array of exotic looking (presumably Ethiopian style . . I didn’t ask) chairs and tables made from cloth materials. The menu has a pretty good selection of meats as well as vegetarian food, we went with an all vegetarian selection. The dishes were pretty decent - to be fair we didn’t sample any of the meat entrees – the ingredients seemed fresh and the cooking was done well,  but I had expected dishes to have a little more kick to them. The highlight was a moderately spicy lentil dish, while the potato and the spinach dishes were a little more bland.The ethiopian bread was generously served under the dishes as customary with generous portions on the side for grabbing the food. The flavor and texture were pleasant, though a little more bitter than I had remembered. The beer list included Ethiopian beers among other imports, as well as a small wine list. The drink prices were good, about $3-4, as were the entrée prices at around $10-$15. The atmosphere is very relaxed and pretty quiet, a good place for conversation and there is no rush from the service to move people along. 

Food           7

Drinks         7
Atmosphere 7
Service        8
Value          9


Nina

Mudai came on our radar due to a coupon I had found, albeit with a minimum purchase condition. When we glanced at the menu we quickly realized that we wouldn't be able to meet this minimum, but then again, nothing wrong with a great deal for dinner!

What is most exciting about Ethiopian food is the way it is served - various creamy dips atop enjera (Ethiopian yeast risen flat bread with a very spongy texture and somewhat sour flavor), that are eaten by hand using pieces of bread. We ordered the full selection of their vegetarian entrees (miser kik - split red lentils in red hot pepper sauce, ater kik - split chickpeas in hot sauce, miten shiro - roasted and powdered chickpeas simmered in spiced butter, gomen - chopped collard greens simmered in mild sauce, and alicha atkilt - cabbage, carrot, potatoes and onions in mild sauce), which came neatly arranged around a crispy pile of lettuce. The level of spice varied from completely bland to medium spice, but I was disappointed at the texture profile of the plate. Since the flavors seemed like different heat levels of the same set of spices, having a uniform set of textures on top of that made the eating experience quite dull in the end.


I drank a red Ethiopian wine with my meal, which was fruity and smooth, and the acidity paired really well with the heavier, somewhat spicy entrees. The restaurant was split in two parts - the first room had a classic table and chairs arrangement, while the second room has a more traditional setup - stumpy stools with inlaid metallic lacing around a highly colorful table covered with a lid when not in use, quite a whimsical design. Service was very friendly, even tough we had some difficulty communicating with our waitress since her English was pretty bad. 


This restaurant is a great deal for dinner, very filling for low cost. I wouldn't count it as a very exciting dining experience due to the relative monotony of flavors and textures, but it's a delicious meal ideal for sharing with a group of friends in a relaxed atmosphere.

Food             8

Drinks           8
Atmosphere  7
Service          8
Value            9

Mr Krab's Seafood Restaurant

Location: San Jose, CA
Cuisine type: Cajun, Seafood
Atmosphere: family style dive, playful themed decoration
Meal: dinner
Price range: ~$10/entree, $1.50-$4/side, more for shareable plates
Overall grade: 7.1

Ben

Most of the restaurant is two rows of tables with a server aisle in between with wooden tables draped with large sheets of paper. It is decorated with some sports memorabilia, Louisiana tributes, and cartoons of crawfish / shrimp. The menu consists of shrimp, crawfish, snow and king lobster. The shrimp and crawfish are boiled with heads and shells on, Louisiana style. We ordered the seafood platter, which came with about 30 crawfish, 15 shrimp, and lobster (we upgraded from snow to king) served in a big pot filled with broth. The broth was delicious, a red color with potatoes, onions, and garlic inside loaded with spicy pepper flavor. Despite a summer and a few trips in the south, we still never saw the huge appeal of crawfish (suck the head and crack through the body for a tiny morsel of meat), but for what it is, they were executed well and had a spicy sweet flavor. The shrimp was perfectly cooked with a soft and fresh flavor, with the drawback for some people (me included) of being cooked with head and shell on is that they are not deveined. The lobster was incredible served in the broth, the only complaint is that at the price we thought we would receive a full king lobster, though we only received about 4 chopped pieces of leg.  The side of sweet potato fries were freshly made and delicious, and the corn-on-the-cob served in a broth was not worth eating, severely overcooked and bland. The atmosphere was pretty fun, the paper table cloths and roll of paper towels on each table calling for food to be enjoyed without worrying about the mess. The drink menu was limited, at the time they weren’t selling beer or wine due to alcohol license issue. The place offers a great taste of cajun style cooking in the bay area, and they have mastered their broths and seafood preparation. The atmosphere is light, fun and informal, filled with groups of friends and couples.

Food           9

Drinks         5

Atmosphere 7

Service        8

Value          7

Nina

We left for Mr Krab's restaurant not sure what to expect. On one hand, so far any restaurant labeled "seafood restaurant" tended to be on the fancy side of the spectrum, especially when lobster is present in any form. On the other hand, the name of the place made me think of a Chuck E Cheese's type setting, which is anything but fancy. The actual place didn't match either expectation - the restaurant was small and unassuming, with a family friendly setting yet with nothing particularly tailored to be children-friendly. The content was also quite surprising - the manu was split between cajun style seafood and asian noodles. Since we came determined to eat seafood, we looked at the former for our choice of dinner.

The entrees were basically all either deep fried or seafood boils, all you had to do was choose the type of seafood, spice levels and sides. We went for a combo platter, since it was shareable and would give us an opportunity to try out most of their menu offerings in one dish; spice level - medium, since I decided to play it safe (this was cajun style, after all); finally, we didn't order any sides until later when we saw corn on the cob being presented to a nearby table and felt a tinge of melancholy for this Midwest staple. It was pretty disappointing that their advertised drink menu was reduced to only water and soda, since they had not renewed their liquor license and had no estimated date when they would get it again.

Our platter came with a lot of crawfish (which I always find difficult to eat, certainly too much labor put in for too small of a reward), quite a bit of whole shrimp, clams and king crab legs, all in a spicy broth whose flavor penetrated all of the components. I was certainly glad we ordered the medium spiciness, it had enough of a kick to make the food more exciting, while not overwhelming the delicate flavor of seafood to the point where all you could taste was spice. For how expensive of an addition the crab legs were, we didn't get too much of that on our plate, so that was a little disappointing, though in flavor they really shined. The corn on the cob was disappointing, to soggy, not sweet enough, and didn't taste too fresh either. It was a good thing that the sweet potato fries were crispy and delicious to make up for it.

Overall, this place doesn't stand out in particular, though it offers good flavorful seafood boil. I would think that crawfish fans might enjoy this place much more than me, I have yet to find good reason to pick these over shrimp or crab legs.

Food             8

Drinks          4
Atmosphere  6
Service          7
Value            7

Morocco's

Location: San Jose, CA
Cuisine type: Moroccan
Atmosphere: exotic dining, themed setting
Meal: late dinner
Price range: $10/appetizer, $18.50/entree, $15 for wine tasting
Overall grade: 8.8 

Ben


I saw an ad in Mercury News for $15 tasting of 5 wines from around the world and an appetizer. We started with about 2 oz each of 3 red wines and 2 whites, served with nuts and an assortment of cheeses. The atmosphere is  very pleasant - cozy, dimly lit, and well decorated with moroccan artwork, and a very social environment. The service was prompt and friendly, and the cheese (camembert, smoked gouda, blue cheese and chevre with cumin) and wine (see above) were pretty generous and a fun experience. We were still hungry so we ended up ordering Briwatts (stuffed fillo dough, 3 stuffed with crabs and 3 with vegetables) and a white fish (tilapia) tagine. The briwatts were fantastic and the tagine had a flavorful paprika sauce though the portion was small for an entrée and the fish was somewhat bland. We found a surprise on the menu that if you “check-in” on facebook you get either a wine taste or a starter dish, so we continued the night as we both checked in on our phones. The starter dish was a beet and potatoes dish but the wine tasting was a pleasant surprise, opening a new bordeaux wine and shiraz. Overall the experience was great, the menu looks very good and I would recommend the lamb / beef tagines, as they looked much better than the “white fish” we selected.

Food          8
Drinks      10
Atmosphere 9
Service       9
Value         7

Nina


On a whim, we decided to forego cooking on a Thursday night and head out for dinner, especially since it was one of those unique days when we both got home from work while the sun was still up. Ben had found reference to this Moroccan restaurant in the local San Jose newspaper, which was tempting in and of itself since we hadn't eaten this type of cuisine for a while. To make it more interesting, they have a wine tasting special once a month which fell on that same day.

We walked to the restaurant form the San Jose MLK Jr library, and realized we had walked by this place before, which goes to show you may pass by true gems without knowing what's hidden behind the street facade. The restaurant has a wonderful welcoming atmosphere. We were greeted at the door by someone who seemed to be an owner, then were lead to a table and presented the specials and menu options. The ceiling was draped with a sort of canvas which created the impression of sitting inside of a giant tent. That, along with the dim lights highlighting decorations along the walls and the carved sun and moon niches above the kitchen created a very genuine exotic atmosphere.

Their wine special included five types of wine and an appetizer - we went for the cheese sampler, of course :) I started on the first wine - a Moroccan Chardonnay from the Beni M'Tir  wine region, while I enjoyed the Camembert, smoked gouda, blue cheese and goat cheese rolled in cumin platter. The plating choice for this selection was interesting, they essentially layered mixed nuts on the bottom and laid the cheese right on top, which actually paired the flavors very harmoniously.

The next wine, a Portugese Vinho Verde, was naturally slightly carbonated and had a pleasant acidity which paired great with the heavier briwatts. We chose two flavors for these triangular Moroccan eggrolls - vegetable and crab. The spice level was gerat, with enough of a bite to delight the palate but mild enough to allow us to taste the rest of the meal fully.

A final appetizer plate was a potato and beet salad with garlic and spices - considering how bland beets often are, this was a really great surprise.  Flavorful and light, it paired really well with my third wine - a Geurrouane red blend from Morocco.

After all this early meal delight, we decided it would be too much to get an entree each, so we opted to share a white fish tagine. The fish was tender, though I was slightly disappointed that it was a tilapia filet - I was hoping for something a little more exciting. That being said, the sauce was rich and light at the same time, and the veggies just perfectly cooked - not too crunchy, not too soft. What made it even better was enjoying it alongside the fourth wine from the tasting sequence - a California aged Syrah.

Last but certainly not least, we ordered the dessert that our waiter enthusiastically described as "heaven in your mouth" - a white chocolate and strawberry birwatt. It was sweet, but not overbearingly so, and worked well with the final glass of wine in front of me - the Chile Casillero Del Diablo Carmenere wine.

This meal turned from a quick escape to quite the feast, but this restaurant definitely impressed me. The decor really carried it us to a new and exotic locale, the service was warm and welcoming and the food brought on a unique set of flavors. It's definitely a great place for a romantic dinner date in the dimmed lighting, but also for a get-together with friends sharing good food and a few bottles of wine.

Food          9
Drinks      10
Atmosphere 9
Service      8
Value        9

Fish Story

Location: Napa, CA (Napa Valley)
Cuisine type: Seafood, American
Atmosphere: Romantic (indoors, dinner patio), mood lighting
Meal: happy hour snacking
Price range: $5/appetizer
Overall grade: 7

Ben


We stopped in for a quick snack in downtown Napa during happy hour and got a cabernet sauvignon and a rose wine. We also ordered some appetizers – raw oyster shots and a potato-fish cake sandwich. The oyster shots were served in an unpleasantly spicy V8 tasting sauce, but when taken as a full shot with the oyster it actually was OK. The other appetizer was also OK, though neither dish I would have paid for at non-happy hour prices. The location is pretty nice and the atmosphere was pretty romantic inside. The service was decent though seemingly impatient with happy hour orders despite the restaurant being empty.


Food          6   
Drinks        7
Atmosphere 7
Service       6
Value         7




Nina


Lured by the promise of a festival in downtown Napa (which turned out to be a mistaken date on the online calendar), we took a walk along the Napa river to enjoy the views of this wonderful valley before heading back home. A restaurant along this river walkway called our attention with mentions of Happy Hour on every patio table. Happy Hour? Yes, please!


We asked for a table and had to wait around until the staff had their pre-dinner meeting at 5, just to find out that we didn't really have to wait if we just wanted happy hour, though we were never asked whether we were there for the happy hour specials or dinner. I would think this shouldn't really make a difference in service, but oh boy, was I wrong! While the restaurant had a very nice atmosphere with dim lights and artsy decorations inside, and the patio we had seen had a wonderful view and elegant decor, happy hour customers had a choice between the bar and the crammed patio by the main entrance - with tall hedges and no view. The wait staff also seemed a bit short, though nice nonetheless, almost as though just stopping by for happy hour snacks didn't really make us worthy to take up their time.


I picked a minty fresh raspberry and club soda drink, which is a little like a mojito sans rum. It was delicious and the freshness of the raspberries was pleasantly surprising, though I confess I would have been even happier had they been lighter on the syrup. For snacks, I ordered an oyster shooter and a potato-fish cake slider. The shooter, consisted of a skewered raw oyster hung over an extremely spicy tomato sauce, served in a shot glass. The sauce was too spicy to entice me into taking it as an actual shooter, I was afraid I would end up in a coughing fit. What I ended up doing was slowly sip half of it (alternating with drinks of water to tone it down), then taking the proper shot with the remaining half of the sauce and the oyster in it. It was surprisingly delicious. I say surprising because after braving through the first half of the liquid I didn't expect much of the combination, but the mellow and salty flavor of the oyster actually balanced out the bite of the tomato juice and went together great - I still maintain that the full amount of sauce would have drowned out the oyster, so the dish missed the mark in finding the right proportion between the components. The fish potato cake slider was a little bland, with very little fish flavor coming through and leaving the impression in each bite that I was eating a hash brown sandwich, not the most enticing afternoon indulgence.


Even though the Happy Hour experience was not entirely positive, I would be tempted to try this place for dinner sometime, the dish lineup and the setup and atmosphere in the main part of the restaurant looked very attractive and the numbers of people streaming in by the time we left suggested that it was a popular destination in the city.

Food          7 
Drinks        8
Atmosphere 9
Service       6
Value         8

Bouchon

Location: Yountville, CA (Napa Valley)
Cuisine type: French
Atmosphere: European bistrot, small outdoor tables
Meal: late lunch
Price range: ~$15/appetizer
Overall grade: 8.7

Ben



Probably the finest restaurant we have visited in a little over a month in the bay area, appropriate for our first visit to Napa. The atmosphere is pretty upscale and offers pleasant outdoor seating with a view of the shopping center across the road. The service was very prompt and polite. The wine selection was fitting to Napa, and we went with the house wine at $8 / glass (off the menu was ~$14 and up) as we had just come from a vineyard. The starting bread roll and butter on the table were fantastic, and we ordered 3 appetizers - cheese platter, french onion soup, and salmon rillettes (a cooked&smoked salmon paste). The soup was served as we had in Europe, cooked in the bowl with a lot of cheese and crouton in the bowl – an incredible version of my favorite soup. The cheese was all very good – a nice french ripeness with a mix of goat, sheep, and cow milk, and served with  cranberry and walnut bread. The salmon rillettes was actually a great dish as well, though a new experience to me – served cold in a jar with a thick layer of fat gel settled on the top, which was to be eaten with  toasted bread. Overall the food was great, the wine selection expansive, the atmosphere light and chatty. The price is pretty high (~$10 soup and $15 for appetizers / wines), though reasonable for the location and quality.


Food 9
Drinks 8
Atmosphere 9
Service 8
Value 6

Nina

After a wonderful visit to O'Brien Winery living up to even the most romantic visions of Napa Valley (leisurely enjoying various estate wines while hearing the wonderful story of the O'Brien couple living their dream of operating a winery and while admiring the charming views of the vine covered hills), hunger came calling. I spotted a place downtown Yountville called Bouchon, which brought back pleasant memories of the authentic hole-in-the wall restaurants sprinkled all over old Lyon called "bouchon lyonnais".

To more fully enjoy the very authentic French cuisine on this menu we decided on a selection of smaller dishes to share. We started, of course, with French onion soup. It was served with a rich bread well soaked in the soup and topped with a thick slice of gruyere cheese, melted in the oven to seal all the flavors in the serving bowl. It was rich and flavorful, and it set the bar pretty high for the remaining dishes.

The next dish was something I had never tried before - rillettes aux deux saumons - essentially a chunky pate made with fresh cooked raw salmon, smoked salmon, butter (&olive oil), and spices, served with crispy bread crostini. I was not sure what to expect, especially when we were presented with a sealed jar, covered with a strange layer of fat on top of something which indeed looked salmon-y. It seems like the fat was a combination of the butter and olive oil use in the preparation of this dish as well as the natural fat of the salmon, and its placement on top served as a natural preservative for the home-made pate which was packaged in the jar for a unique presentation and quick serving. I found that the best way to enjoy this pate was to pick just a bit of the fatty topping along with a scoop of the spread, just enough to produce a crunchy-and-creamy bite on top of a small crostini.

The final savory dish was a cheese selection - tomme de savoie, tome brebis and fleur de marquis - served with slices of walnut and of cranberry bread, fresh honeycomb, sliced apple and candied walnuts. There is not much to be said about this dish since the components are fairly straightforward. The cheese tasted fresh and ripe at the same time, the flavors were rich and took me back to the days when I would stroll through markets in Lyon admiring and tasting various artisan cheeses.

No French meal would be complete without dessert. The most sophisticated selection on the menu was the ile flotante, a rich creme anglaise topped with a light and soft meringue, served with caramelized almonds and crunchy caramel. I chose this (yes, I usually make the call on dessert, no surprise there :) ) because the other offerings were much more predictable - the usual creme brulee, sorbet, chocolate cake, which not only I can get anywhere else, but also feel pretty confident making at home. The star of this dessert was the creme anglaise, which was rich in both texture and flavor, and coated each bite of the much blander meringue for a very harmonious combination. Finally, the caramel and almonds added the perfect crunch to finish the dish.

I absolutely loved this restaurant, which although a little on the pricey side not only featured an amazing authentic French menu but also had an excellent wine selection (many of which were also available byt he glass) and friendly, but not overbearing service.

Food 10
Drinks 9
Atmosphere 9
Service 9
Value 8

Squat and Gobble

Location: San Francisco, CA (Marina)
Cuisine type: Crepes
Atmosphere: cafe seating
Meal: late dinner
Price range: $10-$15/crepe
Overall grade: 7

Ben

Located in the Marina district, we were called in by the large crepe selection and cheap beer specials. The atmosphere feels like a classic diner, with a large open room with lots of small table islands and everything wooden.  It has a lively feel and also offers outdoor seating. We enjoyed choosing from the simple selection of a few house wines and beers.  The atmosphere, drinks, and feel was all quite enjoyable, the only thing that fell a little short was the crepe itself. We ordered a salmon, cream cheese and sun-dried tomato crepe, and had high expectations as we love crepes. It was a little disappointing in flavor, being weighed down with a lot of mozzarella, with the salmon and tomato not coming out very strongly. Overall an enjoyable experience, and - as it is hard to mess up crepes -  I would recommend ordering stronger flavored ingredients.

Food           6

Drinks         8

Atmosphere  9

Service        8

Value          8

Nina

We made a late night stop at a crepe place to supplement the random snacking we'd been doing throughout the evening. I instantly gravitated towards the "marine" crepe, which contained a few ingredients which to me go together magically: salmon, cream cheese and capers. Add to that stringy mozzarella and a topping of sundried tomato pesto, and it sounds like this could be amazing. Unfortunately, it fell short in both flavor and texture, the salmon was in dry chunks and the cream cheese was lost in a greasy mess in the filling. Sadly enough, the best part of the dish were the crunchy french fries, which seemed to come from a store-bought frozen bag. The happy hour price for drinks was not bad, $4 per glass of wine, but I'm not sure that alone warrants going back to this place.

Food          5
Drinks        8
Atmosphere 7
Service       8
Value         6

Little MadFish

Location: Redwood City, CA
Cuisine type: Sushi
Atmosphere: cafe style seating, cozy
Meal: late lunch
Price range: $6-$14/roll (half off for Happy Hour)
Overall grade: 8.5

Ben

Little Mad Fish is a sushi bar with a large selection of rolls and a great happy hour special. The sushi was served very fresh, with soft, tender and flavorful sashimi. The selection of nigiri was standard and came out delicious, and the roll offering was pretty large for the size of the place. We had ordered the rolls without knowing they were half off for happy hour, and were still satisfied with the price. The atmosphere is befitting of the stripmall on which it’s located, very casual, well lit, widespread seats, and wall TVs. The drink selection was average, offering japanese beers.


Food          8
Drinks        7
Atmosphere 7
Service       8
Value         8

Nina

Between sleeping in on the weekend and Ben's ultimate frisbee game, we had a late start towards the city for watching Purdue get dominated in football by in-state rival Notre Dame :( Being in a hurry, we picked sushi at the type of cuisine which could get us on our way quickly, while being satisfying at the same time.

Little MadFish was not far out of the way in Redwood City, and the promise of Happy Hour pricing was tempting as well. We ordered a plate of nigiri sushi to satisfy the sushi purists in us, and two different rolls to share (Mad Fish Special and Mango Lobster). The fish cuts on the nigiri were exquisite, I don't remember ever eating sushi which tasted so fresh and felt so tender, almost creamy (as strange as that sounds) to bite into. The presentation for the two rolls was short of impressive, but I've learned not to judge a book by its cover. Of the two rolls, the Mango Lobster was clear favorite. I believe that the mango must have been part of their special creamy sauce, though it didn't come through very strongly - and I didn't really mind it. The filling of the roll consisted of tender crabmeat and sliced avocado, but it was really the topping that put it over the top - lobster and baked scallop, utterly scrumptious. The second roll, filled with deep fried shrimp and avocado, was topped with unagi (eel), crab meat, crunchy flakes, fish roe and unagi sauce. While the flavors were all there, it might have been the over abundance of ingredients which made it a little too heavy for me.

This little restaurant had just the right ingredients to make for an excellent go-to sushi place. The atmosphere is not overly festive, but it doesn't need to be for a casual get-together or a quick meal. I like that even though it is part of a chain (there are a few locations in the Bay Area), quality doesn't seem to be affected by it, at the same time bringing the benefit of more easily finding one of these restaurants nearby. Last but not least, the happy hour offer of half off all rolls (every day between 3 and 5 pm, and Fri&Sat 9:30 to 11:30 pm) is an awesome deal!

Food         10
Drinks        9
Atmosphere 8
Service       9
Value       10